Juan Foyth could return to Tottenham as a new player following his Villarreal loan spell.
The Spurs centre-back joined the La Liga club on a season-long loan in September, and he has already racked up 15 appearances across all competitions, despite being signed as cover by Villarreal.
Unai Emery has a strong centre-back partnership between Raul Albiol and Pau Torres, and former Everton defender Ramiro Funes Mori makes it even more difficult for Foyth to fit into the back-line.
But the Argentine has still managed to rack up plenty of minutes, and that's because he has been deployed in the pivot midfield role, a position he hasn't played before.
The decision from Emery has been born out of injury issues in midfield for Villarreal, but Foyth has coped well.
And this week, the 23-year-old was asked about his move to the new position. He said at a press conference: "One adapts to the needs of the team. The important thing is not to show off yourself, what's important is that the team does good things (as a whole).
"The coach knows that I am a centre-back, but I am always going to help in the position I am given."
Asked about his experience of playing in midfield previously, Foyth added: "In professional football, I had not played in the pivot. Out wide, yes, for the national team and for Tottenham.
"When I was asked to play pivot, the coach and his assistants gave me tips and advice to be able to play well."
While Foyth - who is also competent at full-back - has coped well with the change, his appearances have been on and off in nature, making four straight appearances through December and January before suffering a muscular injury recently.
Though, he is now back fit and he started last time out as Villarreal blew a two-goal lead to draw with Elche, making it a league-high 12 draws for the Castellon club.
Villarreal, who are currently fifth in La Liga, do have an option-to-buy on Foyth's loan, but he could yet return to Tottenham, the club he joined for £8milion from Estudiantes in 2018.
And if he does return to North London, Foyth could return as a new player having gained this experience as a midfielder.
Not that there are too many gaps in Jose Mourinho's midfield currently with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Harry Winks and others all specialising in playing in a similar role.
Having said that, the switch of position, if it does become lasting, could give him a better chance of making it into Mourinho's plans given there have been questions over his centre-back abilities at times in the past.
And even if the change does not prove to be permanent, the experience of playing midfield could be pivotal with managers often treasuring players who are able to play in more than one position, much like Eric Dier after his change to become a defender recently.
